Futsal – Allstars prevail over Raiders in keenly fought contest

A young Allstars side claimed their first win of the season over a determined Western Raiders side 4-1 in a keenly contested and very fast paced game at Blacktown Sports and Leisure Centre.
The Allstars had the better of the possession in the early stages of the game with Raiders keeper Shamiran Khamis making two early saves to deny the Allstars.
The Allstars changed their formation when Natasha Lo Guidice entered the game off the bench and immediately went up front. Straightaway she caused the Raiders defence problems and gave the Allstars a spearhead to aim for in attack forcing keeper Khamis into a great save with a fierce drive from outside the area.
Khamis saved again from Helen Patinos then the Raiders counter attacked but Filiz Urkanci hit her shot just wide.
As the first half wore on the Raiders asserted themselves more and began peppering the Allstars goal with keeper Nina Blundell making some important stops for her side.
The two sides were contesting fiercely for the ball as the pace of the game resembled a mens match. 
The Allstars nearly took the lead on the stroke of half time as Clare Tyson sped down court but her shot went inches wide of the post.
Moments into the second half the Allstars took the lead when Natasha Lo Guidice ran on to a nice pass to place the ball low past the keeper to make it 1-0.
The Raiders continued to contest keenly for the ball but it was the Allstars who were next to score when Kristi Pavlicevic passed the ball to Ifenia Radopoulos out wide on the left who brilliantly crashed her shot passed the advancing keeper and high into the net to make it 2-0.
Allstars replacement keeper Amanda Horafios made a great block to deny Filiz Urkanci who always looked dangerous whenever she took on the Allstars defence.
Lo Guidice held off her marker and forced a good save from Khamis and Radopoulos also had a shot pushed away by the Raiders keeper.
The pressure exerted from the Allstars finally told and they extended their lead when Rose Scarlato cut inside and passed to Ifenia Radopoulos whose shot went in off the right hand post to give the Allstars a virtually unassailable 3-0 lead.
The Raiders deservedly pulled a goal back when they sped towards goal in a quick counter attack but unfortunately the Allstars Dominique Caridad tipped the ball past her keeper in attempting to knick the ball off the Raiders attacker.
The Allstars put the game beyond doubt late in the game when young Helen Patinos slammed the ball  home from the tightest of angles out on the right flank to seal a 4-1 win.
In a game that kept up a very high tempo throughout the match the Allstars prevailed over the Raiders who had only one reserve to call upon off the bench and to their credit competed hard for the ball the whole game but lacked the cutting edge upfront.
Natasha Lo Guidice came off the bench early in the first half and troubled the Raiders defence the whole game and gave her side someone to target up front. While Mario Maiorana the Allstars coach was especially pleased with the girls who stepped up from the lower grade to make important contributions to the Allstars win.
Teams
Western Raiders – 1. Shamiran Khamis, 2. Frances Dimino, 5. Kirsty Bridge, 7. Filiz Urkanci, 8. Shana Robson, 9. Kylie Meehan, 14. Diyana Lusic
Inner West Allstars – 1. Nina Blundell, 2. Sophie Svinos, 3. Clare Tyson, 4. Natasha Lo Guidice, 5. Helen Patinos, 6. Ifenia Radopoulos, 7. Rose Scarlato, 10.Dominique Caridad, 12.Amanda Horafios, 14.Kristi Pavlicevic
Scorers
Western Raiders ? Own goal
Allstars  –  Ifenia Radopoulos 2, Natasha Lo Guidice, Helen Patinos
Infringements
Western Raiders ? 2 fouls
Allstars  –  3 fouls
Yellow Cards ? Kylie Meehan (Western Raiders)

Venue  – Blacktown Sports and Leisure Centre at Stanhope Gdns
Crowd  approx 150

Referees ? Gavin Lee, Kelly Jones
By- Peter Davis